City Life Starter

Written by Bebe Thomas

The Word

Now He said to His disciples, “It is inevitable that stumbling blocks come, but woe to one through whom they come! It is better for him if a millstone is hung around his neck and he is thrown into the sea, than that he may cause one of these little ones to sin. Be on your guard! If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if he sins against you seven times a day, and returns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.”

Luke 17:1-4

Exegesis

Jesus speaks directly to His disciples here, warning them of the reality of sin and the responsibility they bear in how they respond to it. The passage begins with a sobering truth: stumbling blocks—temptations or offenses—are bound to occur in this fallen world. But Jesus doesn’t stop at inevitability; He issues a grave warning to those who become the source of another’s fall.

The second half of the passage shifts to interpersonal relationships among believers. Jesus commands a bold balance: rebuke sin, but forgive the repentant—no matter how frequent the offense. This is not passive tolerance but active grace.

R.C. Sproul writes,

God’s forgiveness is free and gracious, and it’s conditional. And He graciously supplies those conditions, so that He gets the glory for our repentance and humility.

This underscores the divine pattern: God forgives those who repent, and we are called to mirror that same mercy.

Application

Forgiveness is not optional—it’s commanded. But it’s also not blind. Jesus calls us to rebuke sin and forgive upon repentance. This means:

• We must be spiritually discerning, not enabling.
• We must be emotionally prepared to forgive repeatedly.
• We must be humble enough to recognize our own need for grace.

Ask yourself:

• Do I rebuke sin in love, or do I avoid confrontation?
• Am I willing to forgive someone who repents—even if they’ve hurt me multiple times?
• Do I understand that forgiveness is not weakness, but obedience?

If these questions stir discomfort, that’s okay. Let it lead you to prayer and reflection.

Prayer

Lord, help us to forgive as You forgive. Give us courage to rebuke sin and grace to extend mercy. May we never be a stumbling block, but always a reflection of Your compassion. Amen.